HR Director, Health & Dental Benefits

Overview:

The Director, Health and Dental Benefits provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for all health, pharmacy, and dental benefit programs. This role is responsible for ensuring benefits are competitive, cost effective, compliant, and aligned with organizational goals while supporting team member well-being, access to care, and a positive benefits experience. The Director partners closely with internal stakeholders, vendors, and governance committees to assess trends, evaluate plan performance, and recommend data driven improvements.

Responsibilities:

• Provide comprehensive oversight of all activities related to health, pharmacy, and dental benefit programs, including plan performance, vendor management, compliance, and operational efficiency.
• Partner with internal stakeholders and external vendors
• Ensure benefit programs are administered accurately, efficiently, and in compliance with applicable regulations.
• Facilitate timely resolution of benefit‑related issues
• Oversee appeals processes to ensure fair, consistent, and prompt outcomes for team members.

 

• Analyze trends in health, pharmacy, and dental utilization, costs, and outcomes
• Identify opportunities for improvement.
• Assess team member satisfaction with benefit programs.
• Evaluate network adequacy, access to care, and cost efficiency across all benefit offerings.
• Monitor pharmacy utilization and cost trends

 

• Identify emerging issues and recommend appropriate plan or programmatic changes.
• Research, assess, and recommend plan design enhancements based on utilization trends, market benchmarks, organizational priorities, and financial sustainability.
• Collaborate with partners, vendors, and consultants to evaluate benefit design alternatives.
• Develop actionable recommendations to support team member well‑being based on health and dental usage patterns.

 

• Annual, or as needed, review of summary plan description
• Prepare for and lead monthly and quarterly Health and Welfare Committee meetings, including agenda development, data presentations, recommendations, and follow‑up actions.
• Partner with key stakeholders to align benefit strategies with organizational objectives.
• Maintain strong vendor relationships

 

• Ensure accountability, performance standards, and continuous improvement.
• Assure plans are and remain compliant with all applicable laws.
• Oversee the development and execution of all communication plans related to health, pharmacy, and dental benefits.
• Ensure benefit communications are clear, accurate, timely, and supportive of informed decision‑making by team members.
• Coordinate and lead the annual open enrollment process, including timelines, materials, vendor coordination, system readiness, and post‑enrollment follow‑up.
• Develop and implement targeted actions, programs, or initiatives to support team member well‑being, informed by health and dental utilization trends.
• Coordinate on‑site dental clinics and oversee development of related promotional and educational materials.

Qualifications:

Certifications:  

• N/A

 

Education:

• Bachelor's Degree: Healthcare Administration or 
• Bachelor's Degree: Business Administration or 
• Bachelor's Degree: Human Resources

 

Work Experience:

• Leading health, pharmacy, and dental benefit programs in a complex organization - 10 years

 

Specialized Knowledge: 

• Strong expertise in benefit plan design, vendor management, regulatory compliance, and data analysis.
• Demonstrated ability to translate analytics into actionable strategy and recommendations.
• Proven experience leading cross functional stakeholders and governance committees.
• Exceptional communication, presentation, and relationship management skills.

Carle Health Company Overview:

Find it here.

 

Discover the job, the career, the purpose you were meant for. At Carle Health, we're committed to fostering a workplace where every team member feels valued, respected and empowered, where passion and purpose come together to positively impact the lives of our patients and our communities. Find it all at Carle Health.

 

Our nearly 17,000 team members and providers work together to support patient care across central and southeastern Illinois. We’ve grown to include eight, award-winning hospitals and a multispecialty provider group with more than 1,500 doctors and advanced practice providers. We’re developing the next generation of providers and healthcare professionals through Carle Illinois College of Medicine, the world’s first engineering-based medical school, and Methodist College. Carle BroMenn Medical Center, Carle Foundation Hospital, Carle Health Methodist Hospital, Carle Health Proctor Hospital, Carle Health Pekin Hospital, and Carle Hoopeston Regional Health Center hold Magnet® designations, the nation’s highest honor for nursing care. We offer opportunities in several communities throughout central Illinois with potential for growth and life-long careers at Carle Health.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class. Carle Health participates in E-Verify and may provide the Social Security Administration and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security with information from each new employee's Form I-9 to confirm work authorization. | For more information: View email address on careers.carlehealth.org.

Salary Range: The compensation range for this position is $59.02per hour - $101.51per hour. This represents a good faith minimum and maximum range for the role at the time of posting by Carle Health. The actual compensation offered a candidate will be dependent on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s experience, qualifications, location, training, licenses, shifts worked and compensation model. Carle Health offers a comprehensive benefits package for team members and providers. To learn more visit careers.carlehealth.org/benefits.